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The noisy fans who make Davis Cup ties colourful and raucous affairs will be absent from Sweden's home tie against Israel after security concerns prompted authorities to demand it be played behind closed doors.

It is only the second time a tie will be held without spectators and the decision has diverted attention from some intriguing match-ups in the world group first round taking place from Friday to Sunday, including champions Spain against Novak Djokovic's Serbia in Benidorm.

The first time fans were barred also involved the Swedes and came in 1975 when Bjorn Borg and his team mates beat Chile, at the time ruled by dictator Augusto Pinochet, 4-1 in Bastad.

This time around, worries about the safety of the Israeli team members in Malmo -- a city with a large Muslim community -- have prompted the local authorities to act, a move criticised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Around 1,000 police officers will be on duty for the three-day tie starting on Friday and police said that between 8,000 and 12,000 people were expected to demonstrate on Saturday against Israel's participation in the competition.

"The security plan already submitted by the Malmo police and the efforts of the two tennis associations would be enough to allow the tie to take place under normal circumstances," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.

"Therefore we do not agree with the decision by the Malmo authorities to exclude the public."

Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram called the decision "idiotic" and said in his eyes it was worse than a recent move by the United Arab Emirates to deny entry to his compatriot Shahar Peer for a women's tennis tournament in Dubai.

"Sweden's actions are way more degrading than Dubai's," Ram was quoted as saying by the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

"Dubai is an Arab state that we don't have any ties to. That they, right after a war, find it hard to accept an Israeli I can understand. But with Sweden we have normal ties."

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Sweden captain Mats Wilander said he was sad about the decision from a sporting point of view.

"But then again this is about security and there have been experts on the case," he told Reuters. "We can only try to play our best, even though it will be hard (without the fans)."

The Spanish players, led by world number one Rafael Nadal, should have no such worries in Benidorm, where a special arena has been constructed around the clay court that can hold 14,000.

Australian Open champion Nadal was forced to withdraw from last month's Dubai tournament with a knee injury but said on Monday he was back to full fitness.

"I am in good shape and cannot wait to represent my country," the Majorcan, who missed last year's final victory over Argentina because of a knee problem, said on his website (www.rafaelnadal.com).

World number two Roger Federer has not shaken off a back injury in time for Switzerland's match against 32-times winners the United States in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Swiss team, led by world number 16 Stanislas Wawrinka, will have a tough time on the indoor hard court against the heavyweight U.S. lineup of Andy Roddick, James Blake and doubles specialists Bob and Mike Bryan.

France's quartet of Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet have been in fine form this year and they should be too good for Czech Republic in Ostrava.

Argentina host Netherlands in Buenos Aires, Chile travel to Porec to face 2005 champions Croatia, Romania host twice winners Russia in Sibiu and Germany take on Austria in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

(Source: Reuters)